Services - Home is Best Caregiver

Why choose to hire a live-in nanny or caregiver instead of pursuing other elderly or childcare options, such as live-out nannies or daycare? This is the most common question we are asked by first-time parents or clients, and with good reason. With the plethora of childcare options available now, it is becoming more and more difficult for parents to distinguish why one is better than the other. The goal of this page is to compare live-in caregivers to the alternatives, namely live-out caregivers and part-time babysitters, when it comes to affordability, convenience, stability, personalization and security.

AFFORDABILITY

Hiring a live-in caregiver or nanny is more affordable than sending your parent to a facility or your child to a day-care center. In BC, a nanny’s salary starts at $12.65 an hour while for elderly care it is $18.65 per hour.

STABILITY

Research has shown that instability in a household, whether it be from rapidly changing environments or marital problems, has negative effects on a child's behavioral and intellectual development (one of many papers available: Harden, B. J. (2004). Safety and Stability for Foster Children: A Developmental Perspective). The first stage of Erik Erikson's psychosocial approach to child development is trust vs. mistrust. If a child is provided a stable environment and supported by people s/he knows can be relied upon to provide a warm and caring environment, then the child develops trust and a sense of hope. Failure to achieve this leads to mistrust, which in turn leads to other negative aspects. Clearly, trying to find stability in babysitters or live-out caregivers can be difficult. All three alternatives to live-in caregivers provide a familiar face, but only for parts of the day and only during weekdays. A live-in nanny becomes part of the family, providing an additional source of warmth and caring. In some cases, live-in nannies are qualified teachers or nurses in their home country, which adds an additional source of aid. Children are sensitive to change, and live-in nannies allow children to play and learn in an environment that they are familiar and comfortable with.

SECURITY

Another major worry of parents is the safety of their children. Live-out caregivers and babysitters provide references, but they select their references, and it is difficult for you to find out more about them. Live-in caregivers have to go through numerous background checks. First, they have their home country references, qualifications and certifications checked, along with a criminal background check by the Canadian Consulate. Home is Best Caregiver Services has recruiters in the nannies’ home countries verify information, as well as conduct their own interview. Candidates also have an interview with an immigration officer. Once paperwork arrives in Canada, it is verified again by our agency.

CONVENIENCE

Being flexible is not a strong suit of daycares that operate at set hours. Live-out caregivers and babysitters might be able to change their plans to accommodate you, but often they need plenty of advance notice and may also charge extra for last-minute booking. Live-in nannies are always there and are aware of what is going on with your child, often asking if they can help before being asked; they will also often do light housekeeping, laundry and meal preparation for your family. If an emergency arises where extra hours are required, you have the ability to discuss with the nanny whether they would like to be paid for their time or have extra hours off. This flexibility is one of the greatest differences between live-in caregivers and the other options available.

PERSONALIZED

The least-personalized childcare option is daycare. Besides choosing the general approach to childcare, most daycare centers do not allow for any specific wants unless you pay a premium. Live-out nannies and babysitters do provide the opportunity for you to pick additional characteristics in who you hire, such as language, culture, skills and qualifications. Of course, the more qualified the individual, the more they will charge. Live-in caregivers are chosen to meet your family's unique needs and wants. Looking for someone who speaks English and has an academic background in education or nursing? It is highly unlikely that you will find someone locally willing to work at a wage that will not bankrupt you at the same time. Live-in caregivers bring their A- game into your family at the same wage, regardless of their qualifications.